c K T Khader Word-Formation Process In Englishsite.iugaza.edu.ps/kkhader/files/2011/10/Lexicology-2.pdf · 1- the most common process is Affixation. i.e. the use of prefixes and suffixes.

1- the most common process is Affixation.

i.e. the use of prefixes and suffixes.

this has been dealt with sufficiently

before. .

Word-Formation Process In English

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2- the second most common process is Compounding,

i.e. joining two words ( i.e. free morphemes) to form a new word,

e.g. Hair + do = Hairdo,

take + away = Takeaway.

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*Compounds can be made up of various word-

classes

( or parts of speech) e.g.

noun + noun : bookcase

noun + verb : bloodshed

adjective + noun : greenhouse

adjective + verb : widespread

verb + noun : scarecrow

verb + adverb : takeaway

adverb + verb : downfall

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3- the third process is Invention or New

Coinage.

A lexical item that is a pure invention.

e.g. kodak , xerox, kleenex, penicillin

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4- A fourth process is Clipping,

i.e. cutting the beginning or the end of a word.

The deletion of a part of a word resulting in a

new and shorter word.

e.g. fax for facsimile, flu for Influenza,

exam for examination.

Personal names are often clipped in English –

Mike, Ron, etc..

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5- A fifth process is Blending,

i.e. taking parts of two words and putting them

together to form a new word,

e.g. Breakfast and lunch = brunch;

smoke + fog = smog;

Japanese + English = Japlish.

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6- A sixth process is Acronym;

i.e. A word formed from the initial letters of a

sequence of words, (using the first letters of several

words);

UNESCO = United Nation Educational, Scientific,

and Cultural Organization.

RAM = Random Access Memory.

AIDS = Acquired Immune-Deficiency Syndrome

WHO = World Health Organization.

* Acronyms are often written with capital letters.

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7- A seventh process is Borrowing,

i.e.,

The incorporation of a word or other

item from one language into

another,

For example, English borrowed the

words government and science

from French.

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Word Classes (or parts of speech)Words are traditionally classified into nine classes. These

are:

- Nouns: e.g. book, happiness, girl

- Determiners: e.g. a, the, this, my, some

- Pronouns: e.g. I, mine, myself, who, all

- Adjectives: e.g. cold, angry

- Verbs: e.g. go, do, eat

- Adverbs: e.g. quickly, well, however, very

- Prepositions: e.g. in, under, at

- Conjunctions: e.g. and, but, so

- Interjections: e.g. Good Lord!, Oh dear!

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